Rallies in Bangalore, Belgaum protest Savita's death

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Last Updated: Fri, Nov 16, 2012 17:55 hrs

Bangalore: Demonstrations were held here and in Belgaum Friday to protest the death of Savita Halappanavar in an Irish hospital after doctors there reportedly declined to abort her foetus on the ground that Ireland is a "Catholic country".

The rally in Bangalore was a candle−light demonstration, the one in Savita's hometown Belgaum, 400 km from here, was organised by a students' group, police said.

In a letter to Savita's parents, Karnataka Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar condoled her death and sought to know if his government could be of any help.

Savita, 31, a dentist from Belgaum who was working in Ireland, died of septicaemia Oct 28.

She had gone to Galway University Hospital Oct 21 complaining of back pain and she was found to be miscarrying at 17 weeks.

While her parents Andaneppa Yalagi and Mahadevi have demanded changes in Irish abortion laws, her husband Praveen Halappanavar, who works at Boston Scientific in Galway, said he would return to Ireland soon to fight for justice for his wife.

He had brought Savita's body to Belgaum for her funeral which took place Nov 3.